The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

DUMMY STORY

MY FATHER RETURNED FROM A BOWLING TRIP TO BUFFALO, NEW
YORK AND, WHILE AT THE SUPPER TABLE, RELATED THIS
INCIDENT, WHICH I BELIEVED COMPLETELY.
MY FATHER, HAVING TIME ON HIS HANDS, TOOK A STROLL
THROUGH THE STREETS OF BUFFALO. HE OBSERVED A
SIGNPOST WHICH INDICATED THAT A DANCE WAS BEING HELD
TO BENEFIT THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING. ENTERING THE
DANCE HALL, HE PURCHASED A FEW TICKETS AND SOUGHT OUT
A LIKELY PARTNER. HE APPROACHED A YOUNG GIRL AND AFTER
A SERIES OF GESTURES (WHICH HE DEMONSTRATED FOR US),
MANAGED TO COMMUNICATE HIS DESIRE TO DANCE WITH HER. SHE
ACCEPTED BY THE SAME PRIMITIVE MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.
AFTER SEVERAL DANCES IN COMPLETE SILENCE, A YOUNG MAN
CAME UP TO THEM AND ASKED THE GIRL WHEN SHE WAS
GOING TO LEAVE. SHE TURNED HER FACE FROM MY FATHER
AND REMARKED BITTERLY, "AS SOON AS I GET RID OF THIS
DAMN DUMMY."

Submitter comment: THIS SAME STORY WAS TOLD ON JACKIE GLEASON'S T.V.
SHOW IN 1967 WITH GLEASON AS THE "DARN DUMMY."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): TELEVISION

Date learned: 00-00-1947

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